Easy Pinstripes Afghan to Crochet

The latest of my Christmas-making projects, this afghan was started as an idea to use gray with white for a girl who isn't so girlie (she refuses to wear dresses), and yet still look feminine. What I ended up with is something I'm quite proud of - a pinstriped afghan bordered in ribbon.

Fast crocheters should be able to finish this project in just a couple of days. I'm not so fast - it took me a total of two weeks, stealing a few moments to work on it when I could. The example pictures use Caron Simply Soft yarn, which creates a lightweight softness that it's hard to take your hands off of.

You can also create this blanket without the ribbon, making it look more masculine, which would create the perfect gift for the man in your life.

Only 3 crochet stitches are used in this pattern: single, double, and triple. You should also know how to chain (obviously) and do a simple slip stitch. This makes it easy for the beginner and a treat for the more experienced crafter.

Pinstripes Afghan

Materials: Size I Hook, MC (12) oz. White 4-ply worsted weight yarn (Example uses Caron Simply Soft No Dye Lot Yarn), C1 (36) oz. Gray 4-ply worsted weight yarn, C2 (6) oz., 10 yards ribbon.

Gauge: 5 single crochet = 1"

Directions:

Main Body

This afghan is worked from side-to-side, length is set from chain. To lengthen, use multiples of 5.

Chain 201

Row 1: Single crochet in 1st ch from hook, and in each single crochet across. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, single crochet in each single crochet across. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 2, double crochet in ea single crochet across. Turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, triple crochet in ea double crochet across. Turn.

Row 5: Drop white yarn (don't finish off). Attach gray with slip stitch to double crochet/triple crochet joining. Slip stitch in ea st across. Finish off.

Row 6: Resume with white. Ch 2, double crochet in ea triple crochet across. Turn.

Row 7: Drop white yarn (don't finish off). Attach gray with slip stitch to triple crochet/double crochet joining. Slip stitch in ea st across. Finish off.

Row 8: Resume with white. Ch 1, single crochet in ea double crochet across. Turn.

Row 9: Ch 3, triple crochet, triple crochet, *ch 2, sk next 2 single crochet, triple crochet in next single crochet*. Repeat * to last 3 single crochet, triple crochet in ea of last 3 single crochet. Turn.

Row 10: Ch 1, single crochet in ea triple crochet, 2 single crochet in ea ch 2 sp across. Turn.

Row 11: Ch 1, single crochet in ea single crochet across. Turn.

Row 12: Ch 2, double crochet in ea single crochet across. Turn.

Row 13: Ch 1, single crochet in ea double crochet across. Turn.

Row 14: Ch 2, double crochet in ea single crochet across. Turn.

Row 15: Ch 1, single crochet in ea double crochet across. Turn.

Row 16: Ch 3, triple crochet, triple crochet, *ch 2, sk next 2 single crochet, triple crochet in next single crochet*. Repeat * to last 3 single crochet, triple crochet in ea of last 3 single crochet. Turn.

Row 17: Ch 1, single crochet in ea triple crochet, 2 single crochet in ea ch 2 sp to end. Turn.

Rows 18-20: Ch 2, double crochet in ea st across. Turn.

Row 21: Ch 1, single crochet in ea double crochet across. Turn.

Rows 22-29: Repeat rows 1-8. Turn.

Row 30: Ch 1, single crochet in ea single crochet across. Turn.

Row 32: Ch 3, triple crochet in ea double crochet across. Turn.

Row 33: Drop white yarn (don't finish off). Attach gray with slip stitch to double crochet/triple crochet joining. Slip stitch in ea st across. Finish off.

Row 34: Resume with white. Ch 2, double crochet in ea triple crochet across. Turn.

Row 35: Drop white yarn (don't finish off). Attach gray with slip stitch to triple crochet/double crochet joining. Slip stitch in ea st across. Finish off.

Rows 36-37: Resume with white. Ch 1, single crochet in ea st across. Turn.

Rows 38-66: Repeat rows 1-29 once. Finish off.

Edging

The edging is worked around the border of the blanket, in one piece.

Join yarn with slip stitch in corner.

Round 1: Work 3 single crochet in corner. Single crochet in each st around, placing 3 single crochet in each corner. Join to first single crochet with slip stitch.

Round 2: Ch 1, single crochet in ea single crochet around. Join to first single crochet with slip stitch.

Round 3: Ch 2, double crochet in ea single crochet around.

Round 4: Ch 1, *single crochet, double crochet, double crochet, triple crochet, double crochet, double crochet, single crochet*. Repeat * to end. Finish off.

Ribbon: Thread ribbon through a tapestry needle. Begin at one corner, leaving a very long length for tying and double-tying the bow. Then, weave the ribbon through double crochets on the blanket's border.

Tie bow tightly (I tied this one 3 times total, very tightly). Optionally, use a small length of same-colored thread to ensure you've got the bow secure.